Now Carney Admits: 'The White House Doesn't Create Jobs

White House press secretary Jay Carney made a bold statement Thursday, declaring "the White House doesn't create jobs" — a statement out of sync with President Barack Obama's stated agenda of job growth and boosting the economy.

One day before July's job numbers were released, Carney was asked why Americans should believe in the White House's ability to create jobs with a stagnant unemployment rate.

"Well, the White House doesn't create jobs," Carney said. "The government together — the White House, Congress — creates policies that allow for greater job creation."

Yet Carney's declaration is at odds with the president's own words when he first took office about how they were going to use stimulus funds precisely to create millions of jobs.

View a mash-up of the president's conflicting statements via Gateway Pundit below:

Of course, the notion that the federal government itself doesn't create jobs has always been a belief held by conservatives. Despite all the administration's past statements to the contrary, could the pressure of the stale economy and gearing up for a reelection bid have caused the White House to shift tracks?

Carney floundered when pressed by ABC's Jake Tapper about what exactly the president was doing to spur job creation.

"What is the president doing?" Tapper asked. "He went to fundraisers last night. What is he doing today?"

When Carney said the president has been meeting with staff and calling on Congress, Tapper interjected, "So the same thing he was doing a couple of months ago, calling on Congress to pass things?"

As Carney listed legislative priorities the president supports, Tapper pressed again whether Obama had been in touch with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) or House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

"You're the one that's always saying the president can walk and chew gum at the same time," Tapper said. "Other than calling on Congress to pass things that you've been calling on Congress to pass for months, what is he doing to help the economy?"

"He is working very closely with his senior economic advisers to help advance job growth and creation. He is working with members of Congress to help advance job growth and creation, and he will continue to do that." Carney said.

Asked later during a follow-up if the president could be doing more, Carney said "there is no silver bullet" for the economy.

Watch the full exchange below, via Mediaite: